NSU picks up another win on national stage

BALTIMORE

The Norfolk State Spartans have turned into the prime-time players of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Association.

For the third time in 19 days, the Spartans played on ESPNU, one of the cable network's national television feeds. And for the third time, they came away winners.

This time, though, it was a bit of a shocker as the Spartans knocked off two-time defending MEAC champion Morgan State, beating the Bears 76-74 Saturday at Hill Field House.

"I guess we need to play on TV all the time," said Norfolk State center Kyle O'Quinn, who finished with a game-high 24 points and added eight rebounds as Norfolk State won its fourth straight.

Playing against MEAC pre-season Player of the Year Kevin Thompson, O'Quinn won the match-up of big men as Thompson finished with 13 points and nine rebounds before fouling out in the final minute.

"He thoroughly outplayed Kevin," said Norfolk State point guard Aleek Pauline. "Kyle has really stepped up his game in the last couple of weeks.

"He's playing great and we are feeding off his energy."

O'Quinn, who scored 26 points five days earlier when Norfolk State beat South Carolina State, had a phenomenal shooting day, going 7 for 10 from the field and hitting all nine of his free throws.

But it didn't appear as if the Spartans would have much of a chance in the early going.

Norfolk State was in foul trouble almost from the opening tip and by halftime, six players had two fouls, including all five starters. Morgan State attempted 22 free throws in the first half and 39 for the game.

But freshman Pendarvis Williams, a slender 6-foot-6 guard, played like an old sage, finishing with 15 points in 30 minutes.

"We were in a lot of trouble with the fouls, but we were able to run in some guys like Pendarvis and Rodney McCauley and we were able to hold serve in that first half," Spartans coach Anthony Evans said, pointing to the Spartans' 29-27 halftime advantage. "And that was huge."

The Bears (9-9, 5-2) scored the first four points of the second half to take a 31-29 lead, but Norfolk State (6-13, 4-3) went on a 10-3 run for a 39-34 lead and never trailed from there on.

With Rob Hampton, who finished with 19 points, scoring on a variety of drives to the basket and O'Quinn dominating in the lane, the Spartans built a 70-62 lead with 2:49 left.

Meanwhile, the Bears unraveled.

During one timeout in the second half, Thompson got into a shouting match with point guard Larry Bastfield and the players had to be restrained by their teammates.

The Bears, however, weren't finished and cut Norfolk State's lead to 70-68 with 1:22 left. Hampton ended the 6-0 run by the Bears when he banked in a 10-footer in traffic with 59 seconds remaining.

The game turned into a mini-free throw contest in the final minute.

Williams hit the first of two free throws with 23 seconds left to give Norfolk State a 76-72 lead, making it a two-possession game. Morgan State's final points came with 0.2 seconds to go on free throws by Aric Brooks, who tried to intentionally miss the second attempt but banked it in instead.

DeWayne Jackson led the Bears with 19 points while Brooks chipped in 16.

No player on the Spartans' roster had beaten Morgan State, which defeated Norfolk State twice in overtime last season.

O'Quinn, who has been defensive Player of the Week in the MEAC three times this season and Player of the Week once, all but locked up this week's honor. Asked if he thought he'd outplayed Thompson, O'Quinn was quick to reply.

"No, I didn't," he said. "We beat Kevin today. There was no I to it."

Rich Radford, (757) 446-2463, rich.radford@pilotonline.com